When one thinks of a dive watch, IWC isn’t a brand that springs immediately to mind.

Despite other companies taking the lead in the dive watch race, however, the Schaffhausen-based firm has contributed significantly to the aquatic scene. Their compressor-cased Aqautimers from the late 1960s have since become collectible classics, while the Ocean 2000 designed with none other than Ferdinand Porsche was one of the first titanium-cased divers. All in all, the pilot’s watch-focused company has had quite an impact on the design of undersea timekeepers.

Inspired by the work the Cousteau Society has done with protecting marine life around the world, IWC developed this particular diving chronograph, in which partial proceeds were donated to support the aims of the Cousteau Society.

Housed in a 44mm stainless steel case with a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, and a caseback engraved with the man himself, it features beautiful, luminous sunburst blue dial with applied indices and a matching handset, a day/date window at 3:00, and a clever bidirectional rotating steel bezel - which works with the inner timing bezel to rotate it unidirectionally in a counter-clockwise direction.

Powered by IWC's Calibre  79320 automatic winding chronograph movement, this piece comes fitted to a signed textured black rubber strap with a signed steel pin buckle.

Combine its versatility with beautiful, function-forward design and modern-day IWC pedigree and you've got a winner on all fronts!